Learning & Development Business Partner at JBW Group

As part of the specialist police training team at Gatwick Airport, I have gained over 10 years’ experience creating, delivering and assessing training for the Police. Training groups of up to 30 Police at any one time on courses up to 2-weeks in duration, my objective has been to create a safe airport environment through anticipating scenarios and equipping the Police with the skills needed to reduce risk and protect people, airport facilities/buildings and aircraft. This hands-on training role involves delivering courses in the areas of fire and evacuation, health and safety, Gatwick Induction, airport training, airside driving, first aid and major incidents. Highlights have included personally creating the 1-week induction course in response to the changing needs of the police. This new course incorporates airport orientation, study of the most commonly used airport bylaws and input from Gatwick Fire, Ambulance and Air Traffic Control teams. I have also redeveloped the training room facilities and led the project to introduce Body Worn Cameras. An integral part of my work has included managing the administrative side of training including managing the Police and Gatwick training diary, overseeing training processes, booking in training and writing bids for externally validated courses. Working in close collaboration with Gatwick Airport security has led to training Gatwick Airport Security Staff up to Airport Commander/Manager level and building solid relationships with teams throughout the Airport. Representing the Police, I have attended meetings with the local Runway Group, Airside Safety Group and Airside Driver Training. I also assist with official visits to the Airport. After an exemplary career with the Police since 1995, I am retiring from my role in April 2020 and will continue my career in the learning and development sector.

Transferring from Surrey to Sussex Police in 2006 enabled me to connect with my earlier roots in Aviation and Gatwick Airport became my second home for the next 14 years. I completed a period of Acting Sergeant on the team and was responsible for planning and logistics in response to the Glasgow Airport terrorist bombing. I also supervised the police response to football hooliganism and was the supervisor during an emergency aircraft evacuation and a suspected aircraft hijacking. Moving to the Community Policing team by 2007 involved overseeing matters relating to licensing, disruptive passengers and airside criminality. Efforts in this role were rewarded with a ‘Sussex Police Operational Support Commendation’ for acting above and beyond my rank.

This was my first career step into the Police and I initially joined as a Patrol and Licensing Officer at Leatherhead Police Station. Enjoying a role at the heart of the local community, I was a member of the Leatherhead Town Centre Group which comprised the MP and local councillors and was the Leatherhead Licensing Officer which involved overseeing all licensed premises in the region. Homelessness was an increasing and concerning issue in Leatherhead and I became the Police Liaison Officer for the night hostel. In 1999, I joined the Surrey Police dog section managing a general purpose police dog and a passive / proactive drug and firearms recovery dog. During this time, I was also appointed as Surrey Police Dog Health and Safety Representative and attainted the IOSH Managing Safely qualification.

During this time I worked in the RAF and whilst completing my Police training worked as a Security Officer for BA Wing at Heathrow Airport.